At the recent Entrepreneur Level Up event, billionaire investor and Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec shared his hard-earned wisdom with founders looking to scale their businesses. Known for his rags-to-riches story — from immigrant beginnings to building and selling cybersecurity companies for hundreds of millions — Herjavec offered a blueprint every entrepreneur can apply.
Here are the 8 most powerful lessons from his talk that every founder should take to heart.
1. Success Starts with Relentless Hustle
Herjavec emphasized that there is no substitute for hard work. While strategy and innovation matter, execution is everything. “You have to want it more than anyone else — and work harder than anyone else to get it.”
2. Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Product
Too many entrepreneurs focus on features instead of solving pain points. Herjavec reminded founders that customers don’t care about your product — they care about their problem being fixed. Build around that, and success follows.
3. Cash Flow Is King
Herjavec urged business owners to master financial discipline early. Revenue is vanity, but cash flow keeps the lights on. Founders should track burn rates, margins, and recurring income like their lives depend on it.
4. Resilience Defines Entrepreneurs
Every founder faces setbacks — deals fall apart, funding dries up, competitors move faster. Herjavec’s advice: “You only fail when you quit.” Resilience, not luck, separates successful entrepreneurs from dreamers.
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5. Hire People Smarter Than You
Leadership means building a team that challenges and elevates you. Herjavec stressed the importance of surrounding yourself with specialists who excel in areas you don’t. Great leaders aren’t the smartest in the room — they create the smartest room.
6. Sales Solve Everything
“No sales, no business.” Herjavec hammered this point home: no matter how great your vision, founders must learn how to sell. Whether it’s pitching investors, closing customers, or inspiring your team, sales skills are non-negotiable.
7. Adapt or Die
Markets shift. Technology evolves. Competitors emerge. The best entrepreneurs are agile enough to pivot when necessary without losing sight of their mission. Herjavec pointed out that stubbornness kills more businesses than failure itself.
8. Give Back and Stay Humble
Despite his success, Herjavec emphasized gratitude and humility. True fulfillment, he said, comes not from money but from helping others and giving back. For founders, that means mentoring, supporting communities, and remembering your roots.
Key Takeaway for Founders
Robert Herjavec’s advice is simple yet profound: success isn’t about shortcuts or luck — it’s about hustle, discipline, adaptability, and purpose. Whether you’re raising your first round of funding or scaling to millions, these lessons are a timeless playbook for entrepreneurial growth.
FAQs
1. Who is Robert Herjavec?
He’s a Canadian businessman, investor on Shark Tank, and cybersecurity entrepreneur.
2. What was the Entrepreneur Level Up event?
A premier business event where leading entrepreneurs share insights for scaling startups and companies.
3. What is Herjavec’s core advice for entrepreneurs?
Work relentlessly, focus on solving problems, and never give up.
4. How important is cash flow for startups?
Critical — it determines whether a company can survive, regardless of revenue growth.
5. Why should founders prioritize sales?
Sales bring in cash, validate products, and prove real demand — everything else is secondary.
